Ardens Artists Studio Tour

I will be participating in the 4th Annual Ardens Artists Studio Tour in December.
The tour will be launched on Friday, December 7, as part of Wilmington’s Art on the Town. Visitors are encouraged to join the participating artists for a reception Friday December 7th 6-9 pm at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden.

Visitors to Arden undoubtedly notice that no two houses look alike. Maybe that’s why artists are so attracted to it. Since the founding of Arden in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect William Price, this unique community has been a haven for visual artists, crafts people, musicians and actors. The three Ardens, consisting of Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft, are Single Tax as well as Arts & Crafts communities. The Single Tax is an economic theory proposed by Henry George, an American economist and philosopher in the late nineteenth-century. George felt that a land value tax was the most fair and equitable tax and that any income tax was unfair by nature. The Ardens also were founded on the ideals of William Morris, as an Arts and Crafts community. The Arts & Crafts movement was a reaction against the industrial revolution and valued handcrafted goods and the incorporation of individualistic design.

The Arden Craft Shop Museum supports this idea today and hosts Afternoon with the Artist: One Sunday every month, a local artist displays their work.

The Annual Ardens Artists Studio Tour is the only opportunity to meet and see the artists in their studios, where they create their work. 20 plus artists are participating in this year’s tour, although not all are opening their studios. A group show will be mounted at the Buzz Ware Village Center; maps can be picked up at all locations for the self-guided tour. Lots of work will be for sale and you’ll have the opportunity to learn what went into the making of the work. 100% of the artist's sales benefit the artist. Shop locally for unique holiday gifts and support the arts.

In the Water, acrylic and oil on paper, 9 x 12 inches

This is the piece I will have in the art raffle. Each artist has donated a piece of art for a raffle. All proceeds will be used to finance future art events showcasing the talents of the many artists who live, work, and thrive in our villages. Tickets may be purchased at the Buzz Ware Village Center as well as all participating studios throughout the weekend. The prize drawing will be Sunday afternoon, December 9, at 5 p.m. Winners will be contacted by the artists.
“There is a resurgence of the visual arts in Arden as we artists become more aware of each other. The history of Arden as an artist colony is perhaps the reason that our residents and artists alike have been drawn here to live and work. It's as if the town itself and all of its creative activities have bred a mystical place in which to nurture creativity. Just as our own art that we produce could probably be made anywhere, it’s the acceptance and interest of what we do by the community at large and the contacts that we have with our own community of artists which really allows us to more freely be creative in our own private utopia.” said David Burslem.
Burslem grew up in Arden and cites among his influences well known Arden artists: Aurelius Renzetti, Bunni Hurlong and Ash and Mary Burslem.

“When I moved to Arden 19 years ago from Center City Philadelphia I wondered if I would fit in,” I found that my new surroundings influenced a return to nature themed work and I found myself stopping in on friends in their studios regularly something that never happened in the city.

“I love working in the "village" and being surrounded by so many artists and talented people. I walk into my studio and immediately get lost and totally absorbed in designing and making my jewelry.” said Joy Davis. Davis has shared a sun-drenched studio in Ardentown with Dolores Pye Josey since 1993.

“I don’t know if it’s because I feel so at home here or what, the shoots I do in Arden always turn out great.” photographer Joe del Tufo said.

Meet the Artists Reception
Buzz Ware Village Center
2119 The Highway, Arden, DE



Participating artists: Alan Burslem - Ceramics,

David Burslem – Sculptural Paintings

Kim Brainard Celis - Watercolor Paintings,

Linda Celestian – Paintings and Fiber Sculptures

Joy Davis – “Art to Wear” Jewelry

Joe delTufo - Photography

Pamela Dennis – Fiber Arts

Tom Dulin – Oil Paintings

Phil Fisher – Sculpture and Art Collection

Dolores Pye Josey – Ceramics and Paintings

Dick Lebeis – SilverWear Jewelry

Rhys McClure – Paintings and Drawings

Russ McKinney – Copper Embossings

Ashley Messatzzia - Photography

Eleanore Morrow – Paintings and Silk Scarves

Mary Mosaic – Jewelry and Clothing

Erica Orr – Ink and Watercolor

Jeanne Orr - Paintings

Marge Roberts - Paintings

Jen Saemann – Acrylic and Watercolor Paintings

Dotty Verne - Paintings

Arden Fair, Art Show

Arden, Delaware is a special place to live. Once a year the center of the village is transformed by many volunteers into a Fair grounds for the Arden Fair and Antiques Market held the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The Fair features children’s games and rides, handmade crafts by over 100 vendors, an Antiques Market, used books, plants, live music in the Shady Grove, food and drink, an art exhibit, and more. Proceeds from the Fair help maintain the Arden Gild Hall, where the public can enjoy concerts, musicals, plays, dances, suppers, and programs throughout the year.

The role I play is curation of the Art Show in the Backstage Gallery of the Gild Hall. It is always someone who lives in Arden, Adentown or Ardencroft,and often it is one featured artist. This year I sent out a call for entries to all women artists. The gallery which is used as a green room for Shakespeare productions and musical performers throughout the year, needed to be painted, thanks Shari Phalan for helping! Then Barbara Henry and I installed 37 pieces of artwork that coincidentally was the exactly right amount of artwork for the space. The mediums and techniques ran the gamut and included metal piercing, quilting, traditional rug hooking, oil painting, watercolor painting, nuno felting, shibori dying, restoration of leather chaps, pastel drawing, colored pencil drawing and ceramic and metal sculpting. Women Artists of the Ardens are a group of pretty talented individuals. But I have to give one shout out to a man. Alton Dahl does the machine stitching on Bev's beautiful quilts and he installed the ceiling lights Friday morning that made the show the success it was. Without him I don't know how anyone would have seen anything. The feedback was great and many stories were shared in typical Arden fashion. Thanks to everyone that participated. My photos aren't great. Sorry, Rhys I didn't get your work in the pictures and Shari, sorry your's is cropped.

Participating Artists:

Beverley Barnett, quilting,
Naomi Clark, metal piercing,
Hunter Clarke, painting,
Linda Celestian, painting and silk sculpture,
Ellen Dolmetsch, traditional hooked rugs,
Barbara Henry, nuno felted wearables,
Bunni Hurlong, pastel drawing,
Judith Kay, photography,
Rhys McClure, colored pencil,
Eleanore Morrow, oil painting,
Betty O’Regan, hand-made paper and collage,
Jeanne Orr, watercolor,
Erica Orr, pen and watercolor,
Linda Parks, ceramic and metal sculpture,
Shari Phalan, restoration of leather chaps and wreath,
Toby Ridings, cyanotypes,
Marjorie Roberts, oil painting,
Jeanne Stigler, oil painting and appliqued quilt,
Dorothy Verne, oil painting.

Creativity Workshop

Happy New Year! 2012 is going to be a great year. I've picked a date for the next Creativity Workshop, Sat. February 11, 2012, 11-5pm, at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden.. The time is 11-5 so that everyone can take Kerry Orr's yoga class first. I highly recommend Kerry's class on Saturday's normally 10-11:30, but on Feb. 11th it will be 9-10:30 so as not to conflict with my workshop. Thanks Kerry.

Here's the details about the workshop and a video that describes the musician Goyte's creative process.

Through guided exercises in creative writing, movement, painting and mixed media collage open up to fearlessly enter new territory and discover your authentic self-expression. Walk away reenergized and inspired to tackle your projects and life more creatively.
No experience required.
$65.00 All supplies provided.

The Buzz Ware Village Center
2119 The Highway Arden, DE
Feb. 11, 2012, 11-5 pm

www.lindacelestian.com to read testimonials
Register at 302-478-1329
or email linda@lindacelestian.com
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

This is a cool video I stumbled upon. The musician Gotye talks about the making of his recent album and his process sounds like what I teach in my workshop. An artist doesn't arrive at a finished masterpiece just one day after their morning coffee. It's a process of collecting bits and pieces, playing around with them, discovering new things about them and arranging them anew. To do this you need to welcome this process into your everyday life. The results will amaze and surprise you.

Making Making Mirrors - a short documentary from Gotye on Vimeo.

Here's a very cool music video of his using stop motion animation.

Nature Photography

Some photos taken recently on my walks through Arden.

Drawing Classes in North Wilmington, DE

I've started a new blog that gives all the details about my Saturday Art Classes that I teach in Arden, DE. I'll be updating this as we go along. There is still room for new students to join or drop in. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Check out the blog and please pass this information to anyone you know that might be interested.

New Work

Grounded, 48 x 46 inches

I've finished three of the large paintings. One still alludes me.
Oh and I might still work on the green one. One area is still bothering
ing me, ugh. I should have listened to Drew and left it alone when he told me to. I wish there was a back button in painting.

In the Beginning, 48 x 46 inches

Somewhere Only We Know, 36 x 60 inches

Creativity Workshop Update

The word Creativity might take on different meanings for different people. Here are some meanings that we came up with on Saturday and I few others I pulled from a previous workshop, passion, fun, joy, intangible, unknown, our true nature, movement, new, expression of self, ability to stand alone, open, growth, flow, journey, ever present, recognizing that we are collaborators, part of creation, transcendence, release, surprise, discovery, inspiration, freedom, risk taking, and insight.

In the workshop we wrote, we laughed, we moved to music, we painted, we shared, we collaged and exchanged ideas. Then we were exhausted!

These are the only photos I remembered to take. I didn't get any of the final collages which is fine since I actually think it's more about process than finished product. It's so important to enjoy the process and understand that you're not going to love everything that you make. You are always learning something new that helps you the next time around. The creative process is a lot like life, you can't be worried about making mistakes. If you were you'd never leave the house and what fun would that be?

Thanks Keri, Kevin, Suzanne, Toby, Nicole and Liz for allowing me to bring you on a creative journey to the land of possibility.

If you are interested in participating in this workshop the next time I teach it please drop me an email and I'll add you to my email notification list.

My Opening in Arden

Thanks to everyone that made it out to my opening at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden this past Friday evening. It was nice to see so many neighbors and friends and meet some new people as well. It was a great turnout and I received really nice comments about the work. Here's how it looked minus one corner I didn't get a picture of.

I know it's not quite the same as seeing it in person.

My next show is in Wilmington at the Carvel State Office Building at 820 N. French Street in the Delaware Division of the Arts, Mezzanine Gallery for the month of July. The opening is July 8th, 5-8 p m. This is the second Friday due to the 4th of July weekend.

Art on the Town Opening

I will be at the Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden, DE for the April 1st, Art on the Town opening. If you're a local friend, you are invited to stop by. I am planning to show a sampling of works in different mediums. Here's what I wrote for the brochure, so now I must deliver.

"Linda Celestian’s work although abstract is unmistakably inspired by nature. She explores many mediums and has chosen to show works in colored inks, oil paint, encaustic and fiber next to each other the way you might find them in her studio. Come out to meet her and learn how working in more than one medium aids in her to ability to express her feelings about the beauty of nature."

The work I posted paired together for the Duets show application inspired the idea for this show. I might even get some of my photos printed to have on hand. The idea is to present some work together that I'll probably never show together in a gallery setting but will highlight how I work. A photograph taken on vacation might inspire a painting which in turn inspires a sculpture, which inspires me to photograph something I find in nature that reminds me of the painting and so on. In the end it's hard to tell what came first and doesn't even matter. It's easy to see that it all came from me or so I think.

Here's a video interview done by my friend David Nordheimer at the installation of my February show, I'm talking about my inspiration and my technique in oil paint. It's preceded by an infomercial about Wilmington's Art on the Town:

Nature Photograpy

Yesterday I brought my camera along on my walk through the woods. I rock hopped down the middle of Naaman's creek stopping here and there to take pictures of the water.

I didn't bring a tripod so I steadied the camera against my face or knee as best as I could.

I love how you can see bits of blue sky reflected in the water.

Since art imitates nature, this is what I worked on when I got home.

This is painted fabric that I then spray painted with rocks as resists.

The top half of this shot is a painting on plexiglass, I'm holding it up so the light from the window is coming through. This is something I'd love to work on scaling up for the gallery.

Another piece of fabric I worked on. And now I have some really cool spray painted rocks.